A RECORD 402 youngsters will compete in MBPJ-Milo Junior Tennis Open Championship 2026, marking an increase of 105 players from last year.
Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Yazid Sairi said the increase within a year was an encouraging sign for the event organised by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Selangor Tennis Association (STA).
“It shows that the tournament has reached a mature stage after 36 editions, having grown considerably since its early years.
“I believe MBPJ’s decision to continue organising this tournament is the right move and I can give an assurance that it will continue,” he said during a press conference at MBPJ headquarters.
The competition is set from Aug 29 to Sept 2 at MBPJ Sports Complex and PKNS Sports Complex in Kelana Jaya.
Players from across the country will compete in boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles in the Under-Eight, U-10, U-12, U-14 and U-16 categories.
Participants include 124 from Selangor, 88 from Kuala Lumpur, 31 from Perak, 29 each from Johor and Melaka, 24 from Negri Sembilan and 27 representing MBPJ’s Junior Tennis Programme.
The tournament is recognised by the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM) and offers national junior ranking points.
Mohd Yazid said the ranking points were among reasons young players continued to participate in the tournament.
STA vice-president and tournament chairman Tengku Datuk Mohamed Tengku Harun said the competition provided young players exposure and allowed coaches to assess their development.
Players identified through junior competitions had gone on to represent the state, he said.
MBPJ and STA, he added, had also been organising monthly junior tennis competitions since 1998.
Similar competitions had subsequently been introduced in Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Johor.
At the press conference, Milo sports marketing manager Noor Misbah Md Nasirudin Kamal and F&N Beverages Marketing Sdn Bhd event and sponsorship manager Muhammad Fauzi Ahmad presented sponsorships to MBPJ and STA.
Also present were Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Sharinaz Samsudin, MBPJ Community Development Department deputy director Ku Mustafa Ku Mohamad and STA honorary secretary Dr Mohamad Rahizam Abdul Rahim.
